Martin Luther Miller - Clairborne County, TN

Martin emigrated with his parents from Heidelburg, Germany sometime before the Revolutionary War. They settled on the Haws River in Alamance Co. (Orange Co), NC near Mebane. Martin Miller served in the Revolutionary War. He was a resident of Granville Co., NC when he enlisted on December 22, 1776. He served as a private and musician, was in Capt. Cook's company of the Ninth North Carolina Regiment. He was engaged at the battle of Germantown, PA under Col. Clark and Captain Alexander Mebane. He was stationed under Gen. George Washington at Valley Forge on the River Schuylkill. He was discharged in 1780. In 1807, for his War services, he received a Land Bounty from North Carolina, comprising a large section of land along Big Hunting Creek and extending into Sharps Chapel (Tennessee). He built his home near the creek which was once called Harbisons Cross Road. In 1831, he was given a pension of $80 in Claiborne Co., TN. In 1850, at the age of 70, his widow Elizabeth received a pension. After the death of his first wife Sallie, Martin had moved to Sharps Chapel, Claiborne Co., Tennessee. His land is now under water a part of Norris Reservoir (TVA). He was married two times, the first to Sallie Ritchie, the second the second to Elizabeth Giddens. All four of the children from first wife ended up living in Putnam Co., Indiana. Martin's grave and marker were relocated by TVA to Skaggs Cemetery in Maynardsville, TN.

A quote from a TVA Family Case Record, Early 30s: "Mr. Cook purchased a place in Jefferson County near New Market early enough this year so that Dave Miller, formerly a tenant on the home farm, could go there and raise a crop this season. He has moved the majority of his stock there already and quite a lot of other belongings. He will continue to move as long as there is anything left to move. He will give his son Herbert, some of the lumber from his buildings, as he does not need it all. He sees no reason that they should not be able to vacate easily by December 1st.

The house is of log construction, being two stories, and containing seven rooms. Part of the house is of frame construction, being added to and covered over the log part of the house. The oldest part of the house is well over 100 year of age. Although old, the house is still in good condition and comfortable. The furniture is old, but ample for the family needs, and the house is very well kept indeed" The above pictured home is now under the waters of Norris Lake.

Every year, the 3rd weekend in July, the descendants of Martin Miller meet to honour Martin and to renew aquaintances. Please note this year the reunion is being held in Sharps Chapel, TN.

You may contact me at email if you have questions or materials to share, especially those that belong to the Sallie Ritchie lines from Indiana.

In recent years, it has been noted that often it is incorrectly stated just which children belonged to Martin's 1st wife Sallie Ritchie. This is the correct information:

Children of Martin and Sallie Richie:John Miller 1780 – 1873George Miller d. Jun. 28, 1879Jane Miller Anderson 1791 – 1875 Records say born in NC.Martin Miller 1794 – 1890Some research states Nancy Owsley instead of Martin as one of the four children with Sallie Ritchie. Family records and recent documentation show that Martin is actually the 4th child of this union. Nancy was the child of Martin's second wife Elizabeth.

Later the children of Sallie Ritchie would all move to Indiana. Looking for kin from this line and hoping someone can tell us where Sallie Ritchie is buried.

My thanks to those who have worked tirelessly to see that our family lines are remembered. Owen Cook, Ray and Char Needham, Marsha Bratton, Don Sanford, Wade Miller and countless others. Two early researchers - Winnie Palmer McDonald and her wonderful Union County TN historical books; And Wes Duncan. In memory of Wes Duncan and all his earlier work, I have added a copy of his old webpage below. It is truly amazing the work Wesley accomplished so early on.

Wes Duncan's Genealogy page should only be used as a reference tool. Most of the information dates back to 2000 in it's original form and through further online research available, some of it has been updated or corrected.

I would suggest you look first on Find-a-grave where everything is updated frequently and use the Duncan Ancestor Genealogy Page to compare or when the info is not found on Find-a-grave.

* * * * Wes Duncan's Ancestor Genealogy Page * * * *

The Descendants of Martin Miller

The names in parentheses are not real names. Sometimes we have shown the name in parentheses because it is a nickname. At other times we have been unable to obtain the correct name and the one in parentheses stands in for the correct name. Many times this occurred because the one furnishing the information did not understand that we wanted the maiden name of the wife and they furnished the married name. Note: SP means that the reference shown is to a person shown as a spouse as opposed to someone in the direct line of descent.